NEWS & EVENTS

PRESS RELEASE 22 FEBRUARY 2017

Maritime Cook Islands Reconstitutes Its Technical Department – Four New Senior Appointments to Provide Enhanced Technical Expertise to Ship Owners

Maritime Cook Islands (“MCI”), the international ship registry, has significantly enhanced its technical department with a series of senior appointments.

The new department now has a much stronger presence in the key European market following the appointments of Paolo Favilli, Rachele Andreani,  Andrea Emanuele Pippa and Brendan Smith.

Brendan Smith is based in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, home of the flag while his three colleagues are based in Europe. The reconstituted department, consisting of experienced professionals with industry-relevant technical expertise, aims to further solidify MCI’s presence in Europe, and to improve service standards to MCI’s clients in the region.

Chief Executive Officer of MCI, Glenn Armstrong said today: “These changes represent a major upgrade on our previous arrangements, and this is an exciting start to 2017 with a greatly enhanced technical department. Having experienced professionals like these new colleagues means MCI’s clients are in good hands – those in the same region and time zone stand to benefit the most from this.”

Paolo Favilli

Heading the newly-reconstituted department is European Manager, Paolo Favilli who is based in Genoa, Italy. Covering merchant vessels specifically in the European region, Paolo is primarily responsible for ongoing business development in the region.

Paolo previously worked as the Project Director at International Maritime Safety, Security and Environment Academy, managing and coordinating activities related to IPSEA Project and supporting the maritime transport sector in Africa.

Rachele Andreani

Technical Manager Rachele Andreani, joins MCI from a leading full-service yachting company where she took on several roles – Company Security Officer, Deputy Designated Person Ashore (Monaco and Miami), Qualified Individual for OPA ’90 and Safety Superintendent for all the fleet.

A qualified Deck Officer, Rachele has close to 15 years of experience in the maritime industry – roles in the audit, safety, security and environmental departments for companies operating in commercial shipping, offshore, cruise and superyachts sectors – and a degree in Maritime Law.

Andrea Emanuele Pippa

Andrea Emanuele Pippa joins the technical department as Surveyor and Yacht Technical Expert of MCI, and will be based in Italy.

Andrea has a Naval Architect Degree and over 13 years of experience in the shipping industry, specifically on recreational and charter crafts in Italy, providing surveys and technical consultancy. He is also a full member of the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), having attained it in 2014.

Andrea is also a freelance technical consultant for ships and those of mega-yacht status – performing economical evaluation, pre-purchase surveys, and claims for companies and private owners.

Brendan Smith

Brendan Smith takes on a new appointment as Technical Manager who will be based in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

He brings with him knowledge gained at sea and ashore, and has held several varying positions – from a Dogman on the Marine Operations Team to a Skipper of the Mina Campbell, an 18-metre tug boat for towing operations.

Brendan returned to the Cook Islands in mid-2016 where he took on the role of a Project Manager with Air Rarotonga, a position held prior to joining MCI.

Ends

About MCI

Maritime Cook Islands is building a world class Open Register for Ships and Yachts from Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and its goal is to become the flag of choice for Quality Classed Tonnage and Super Yachts.

Maritime Cook Islands offers responsible ship owners exceptional service.

1. We aim to keep ships in compliance and to keep them moving. Through our MARCI online Register, we will always know when a vessel is due for a survey or a certificate is about to expire.  We will ensure that ships are maintained in compliance avoiding Port State Control problems.
2. Through our network of Deputy Registrars, ship owners will be able to conduct business in their own time zone in their own language and get things done quickly and efficiently.
3. Cook Islands does not impose additional requirements on ship owners beyond the requirements of IMO Conventions read together with the IACS Unified Interpretations.
4. Through Cook Islands appointed IACS Class Societies and other Recognized Organizations and our network of Flag State Surveyors around the world ship owners should be able to obtain service in virtually any port.

For more information on the Maritime Cook Islands, please visit: https://www.maritimecookislands.com/

For yacht-related matters, please visit: http://ciyachtregistry.com

For more information on this press release, please contact:

Media consultants to MCI

Helix Media Pte Ltd

Edward Ion – edward.ion@helixmedia.asia at +65 9111 6871

Fazirah Sa’im – fazirah.saim@helixmedia.asia at +65 9009 2760